As the Chicago Bears gear up for an anticipated, divisional showdown with the Minnesota Vikings, there’s more than just a little optimism in the air with the Bears fresh off their first win of the season.
While every game comes with its challenges, there are some glaring chinks in Minnesota’s armor that Chicago can exploit.
Here are three reasons for optimism when the Bears take on the Vikings in Week 6.
1. Capitalizing on Minnesota’s Fragile Pass Defense
The Vikings’ pass defense has been less than stellar this season. Minnesota is near the bottom of the NFL, and opposing quarterbacks have been having a field day, completing passes at an astonishing rate of 76%. This should create an opportunity for quarterback Justin Fields. After demonstrating his prowess in the last couple of games, if Fields remains consistent and avoids turnovers, the Vikings might be in for a tough afternoon.
2. Pressuring Kirk Cousins into Mistakes
Minnesota has put all its eggs in the Kirk Cousins basket, and that’s proving to be a shaky strategy. Cousins, while talented, has been giving the ball away far too much. Now, with his go-to-receiver, Justin Jefferson, sidelined and the Bears welcoming back Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson to the secondary, all signs point to an excellent opportunity for the defense.
If the Bears can jump to an early lead, they’ll be in prime position to capitalize on an inevitable mistake by Cousins.
3. The Absence of a Running Threat
Gone are the days of the Vikings being a rushing threat. The team has failed to find the end zone with the ground game this season. The absence of Dalvin Cook is palpable, and the red zone struggles are evident. The Bears defense has a simple task – keep the Vikings running backs out of the end zone and challenge Cousins to beat them through the air.
Summary
Every NFL game is unpredictable, but there are compelling signs that this game can tilt in Chicago’s favor. The game plan is clear, and if the Bears execute, there’s no reason they can’t begin a two-game winning streak.
